Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) fruits cv. Sweet Charlie were harvested at the 3/4th maturity stage. Freshly harvested fruits were packed in plastic punnets and wrapped with different packaging materials viz., low-density polyethylene (LDPE) 25, 50 and 75 micron, polypropylene (PP) 25 micron, cellophane paper and cling film. Effect of all the packaging materials was studied in ambient storage condition (18-25 ºC and 80-90% RH). The result showed that LDPE 50 micron packaging material proved as the most effective one to control the weight loss (5.49%) and all of the LDPE films along with the PP and cling films appeared best to minimize decay loss. MAP conditions help prevent the decaying of strawberry fruits up to a day. The total soluble solids (6.35% - 5.78%) and titratable acidity (0.91% - 0.70%) were found to be decreased with the prolongation of storage periods, but no significant variation was recorded for different packaging materials. A better level of ascorbic acid in strawberry fruits packed with LDPE 50 (31.56 mg/ 100g) and 75 micron (29.86 mg/ 100g) packaging films was retained. The organoleptic rating of strawberry fruits was found best in fruits packed with LDPE 50 micron (7.90) packaging films. In future, these experimental results may prove very useful for storage of strawberry fruits for a certain period in better quality.

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A study was conducted in two districts i.e. Fatehabad from South-West zone and Karnal from North- East Zone of Haryana state .A list of all the villages (Zero tillage technology users) in each selected village was prepared. Twenty farmers (having small, medium and large size of land holdings) were selected by using random sampling techniques from each village. Therefore, the sample constituted for the proposed study was one hundred and forty farmers/respondents to collect the information for the purposively study. To measure the knowledge and adoption level of ZTT users, they were asked to reply different questions on recommended aspects/practices of ZTT users. The correct answers were awarded a score and incorrect reply was given zero score. The scores obtained under various aspects/practices were summed up with both respondent wise and as well as component wise. The computing low, medium and high knowledge level on the basis of socio economic status. The study revealed that Mean knowledge score of the respondents was 62.75%. High socio-economic status farmers were found to have high level of knowledge in all practices i.e. pre sowing (72.26%), after sowing knowledge (74.66%) and fertilizer knowledge (74.16%) medium and low socio-economic status farmers had found poor or medium knowledge about ZTT. Pooled farmers (57.85%) had favoural attitude towards ZTT. High socio-economic status farmers (63.63%) had better attitude under favourable conditions than medium (32.09%) and low (24.32%) farmers. The SES farmers, having pre sowing adoption (66.80%) and fertilizer adoption (55.50%), after sowing adoption (50.66%) the medium and low SES. Farmers. High SES farmers than (63.63%) had better attitude under favourable condition than medium (32.09%) and low (24.32%) farmers.

Experiment was conducted to study the effect of different treatments on preservation of strawberry pulp at ambient and low storage temperature condition. The samples were pasteurized at 100°C for 15 minutes (T 1 ), sodium benzoate 250 ppm (T 2 ) and sodium benzoate 500 ppm (T 3 ). The respective samples were stored for two months at room (25±5°C) and low (7±2°C) temperature conditions and reducing sugars; total sugar and sensory evaluation were recorded at three days of interval period. The results showed that the total sugar (%) increased in pulp sample maximum in T 6 (5.9%) and minimum in T 1 (4.8%), the maximum value regarding reducing sugars was recorded in T 6 (4.9%) and minimum in T 1 (1.4%) after 60 th days of storage. However, reducing sugars and total sugar decreased in the stored pulp at room temperature and spoiled completely on 18 th day of storage. The acceptability of organoleptic score decrease with the duration of storage in both ambient and low temperature. Among different treatments, sodium benzoate @ 500 ppm was found most effective and maintained the qualitative characteristics of preserved pulp at low (7±2°C) temperature condition. In future, these experimental results may prove very useful for storage of strawberry pulp for longer duration in better quality.

Production of strawberry cv. Sweet Charlie under soilless system (Horizontal and A-shape structures) at six different planting densities using two diameters of PVC pipes in a actively ventilated poly house was attempted. Significant differences were observed in growth parameters, namely number of leaves, petiole length, plant height, plant spread and crown diameter. The results showed that the plants grown at D3 (20 plants/m2) significantly increased the number of leaves (9.76 and 12.49) and plant spread (24.44 and 25.69 cm) compared to other planting densities. The planting density significantly influenced the petiole length and plant height also in strawberry. The maximum petiole length (8.43 and 8.64 cm) and plant height (13.92 and 15.31 cm) were recorded from D3 (12 plants/m2), however non-significant difference was observed between D3 and D4. In future, these experimental results will prove very useful to find out most suitable plant geometry for better growth of strawberry.

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Aims: To study the effect of different micronutrients and number of foliar spray on fruit quality and leaf nutrient content of peach. Study Design: The experiment comprised of seven treatments and conducted on seven years old plants in Randomized Block Design with three replications. Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted at the experimental orchard of Department of Horticulture, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar during the year 2018. Methodology: The treatments included in the study consisted of three micro-nutrients [T1- ZnSO4 @ 0.2%, T2- ZnSO4 @ 0.3%, T3- FeSO4 @ 0.2%, T4- FeSO4 @ 0.3%, T5- Boric acid @ 0.1%, T6- Boric acid @ 0.2%, T7- Control (water spray)] each applied as foliar spray at different concentration as single and double spray. Results: The results showed that foliar spray of micronutrients significantly improved quality and leaf nutrient status in peach cv. Shan-e-Punjab. The foliar spray of FeSO4 @ 0.2% (T3) found to be the best treatment with respect to TSS (11.06%), ascorbic acid (8.18 mg/100 g pulp) and leaf iron content (345.51 ppm). The highest TSS: ratio (23.88), leaf zinc content (35.42 ppm) and lowest acidic fruits (0.45%) was observed from the plants sprayed with T1 (ZnSO4 @ 0.2%), whereas, highest leaf boron content (91.02 ppm) was recorded with T6 (Boric acid @ 0.2%). Double foliar spray of micronutrients (Fe, Zn and B) at first week of March + April significantly TSS, TSS: acidity, ascorbic acid, leaf zinc, iron, and boron content and reduced acidity fruits then single foliar spray in first week of March. Conclusion: The foliar spray of ZnSO4 @ 0.2% (T1) proved to be best treatment in terms of quality. A double spray of micronutrients (Fe, Zn and B) significantly increased total soluble solids, TSS: acidity, ascorbic acid, leaf (zinc, iron, and boron) content and reduced fruit acidity as compared to single spray.